Monday, May 18, 2009

"Cozy" book and film recommendations #1

I was going to include the comments after each title but it became clear I would have to give the link to the original post at the end of this one. Otherwise the list would be a novel in itself. :)

The recommendations came by comments to my original post, e-mails, and Sally Clarkson made suggestions on her blog. I asked for favorite books and films which give wonderful accounts of warm and cozy homes, mealtime, tea time, etc.

My inspiration for putting together such a list came about from authors I "discovered" through my reading and the recommendation of people who like the same types of books I do. I love to find out favorite authors of... favorite authors. I'll be asking for more recommendations come summer... so please, either send an e-mail with more suggestions or keep a list of your own to share later.

I added a permanent link on the sidebar just above the "Followers" widget.
Recommended Authors
(these names kept coming up aside from specific titles)

BooksThe Wind in the Willows by Kenneth GrahameQuartet In Autumn by Barbara PymLittle Women by Louisa May AlcottMrs. Miniver by Jan StrutherThe Enchanted Barn; April Gold; The Honor Girl by Grace Livingston HillShell Seeker; The Blue Bedroom (Home For the Day short story) by Rosamunde PilcherChina Court by Runner GoddenThe School of Essential Ingredients by Erica Bauermeister

The Three Tenses: A Fugue in Time by Rumer GoddenFarmer's Boy by Laura Ingalls WilderThe Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
(with special attention to the meal served by Mrs. Beaver)Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie BrinkMandy by Julie Andrews

Girl of the Limberlost & The Beekeeper by Gene Stratton PorterThe Penderwicks by Jane BirdsallThe Gone Away Lake & Melendy by Elizabeth EnrightBig Susan by Elizabeth OrtonMy Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead GeorgeCountry Kitchen; Home Grown; Cousin William; and Millbrook by Della Thompson Lutes

The Blue Bedroom (Home For the Day short story) by Rosamunde PilcherAll of a Kind Family by Sydney TaylorFour Story Mistake and The Saturdays by Elizabeth EnrightThe Plums Hang High by Gertrude E. FinneyPapas Wife & The Home Has a Heart by Thyra Ferre BjornThe Country Child by Alison Uttley

Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer GoddenSwiss Family Robinson by Johann WyssA Bear Called Paddington by Michael BondDying For Chocolate by Diane Mott DavidsonFirst We Have Coffee by Margaret JensenFive Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney

Cousin William by Della LutesMrs. Appleyard and I by Louise Andrews KentA Civil Contract and Frederica by Georgette HeyerCherry Acres and Under a Country Sky by Grace S. Richardson

Book SeriesThe Elm Creek Quilt series by Jennifer ChiaveriniThe Boxcar Children series (#1-19 was written by Gertrude Chandler Warner)
Tea Shop Mystery Series by Laura ChildsThe Brambly Hedge books by Jill BarklemThe Mitford Series by Jan KaronThe Blossom Street series by Debbie MacomberBorrowers Books by Mary Norton
The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques
The Beatrix Potter series by Susan Wittig Alberts

Recommended Books About Cooking & DecoratingHome Cooking and More Home Cooking by Laurie ColwinLiving a Beautiful Life and Creating a Beautiful Home by Alexandra StoddardBeautiful Home on a Budget; Welcome Home; If Teacups Could Talk by Emilie BarnesThe Pleasure of Tea; The Charms of Tea by Victoria MagazineMrs. Sharps Traditions by Sarah Ban BreathnachThe Gentle Art of Domesticity by Jane BrockettFrugal Luxuries by Tracey McBrideFrugal Luxuries By the Season by Tracey McBride (Added)Home Comforts by Cheryl MendelsonCreating a SenseSational Home by Terry Willits

Recommended Films
You've Got Mail
State Fair (1945)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Little Women (1994)
The Christmas Box
Babettes Feast
Pride & Prejudice
Sense & Sensibility
Sleepless In Seattle
Home Alone
North and South
The Shop Around the Corner
In the Good Old Summertime
Three Coins in the Fountain
The Human Comedy (1943)
Our Vines Have Tender Grapes (1945)
How Green Was My Valley (1941)
It's a Big Country (1951)

Recommendations on Sally Clarkson's blog
Brambly Hedge
Pilgrim Inn by Elizabeth Gouge
The Hidden Art of Homemaking; What Is a Family; L'Abri by Edith Schaeffer
Heidi
The Gold Thread
Just David
The Little Princess
Eloise Wilkin (artist)

What a wonderful list. Tracey McBride also has a wonderful book Frugal Luxuries by the Season. Her book Frugal Luxuries has to be one of my all time favorites. It taught me how to be frugal and yet have simple luxuries doing so.

I'm going to check some of these books out (the ones I haven't read) and see if I can find them at the library.

Vee you'll love First We Have Coffee!! :) I didn't know someone mentioned it...good for them! Brenda this could not be easy to figure out a list from so many comments... you did a great job!! I will jot down titles and be on the lookout for these treasures!! :) Thankyou!!! Jody

Oh the Papa's wife books are soooo good. Sort of reminisent of I Remember Ma Ma which is a great movie too and the book it was based on I have but can't remember the name of it just now. If I find it I will get back to you. I always wished there were more in the Papa's series. Jody

Okay, now that I've seen what others have suggested, here is what I can add for movies-

Anne of Green GablesAnne of AvonleaWives and DaughtersCranfordMrs. PotterNorthanger Abbey (the new one)Sense and Sensibility (the new one)Pride and Prejudice (with Keira Knightley)*Enchanted April *Lost in Austen*these are both coming from Amazon so I haven't seen them yet but they have dozens and dozens of positive reviews-I'll keep you postedThe Waltons (series)The Magic of Ordinary DaysLove comes Softly (series)Sarah, Plain and Tall (3 movies)Tales from Avonlea (series)Little House on the Prairie (series)The InheritanceMiddlemarchGone with the WindChristy (series)

Thank you so much! i'm so excited to have the list. I've printed it off and will be using it when I order from the library. I've already received Pilgrim's Inn in the mail, but am waiting interlibrary loan to see if I can get the first in the series. Thanks for taking time to put this together.

Brenda, what a great list. I know a lot of these authors and movies, but was unfamiliar with several. I ordered some from my library. I am grateful for all the authors who have used their gifts to give us hours of comfort, inspiration, amusement! Thanks for compliling this.

Someone mentioned the series I Remember Mama - the movie, based on the book was Mama's Bank Account. The tv series was all live so almost no film copies of these wonderful episodes remain. Every year they did the same Christmas special, or so I remember......I've been drinking Maxwell House Coffee all my adult life (pretty much) because they were the sponsors for this program which I adored as a child.

Brenda, you have me hooked on Laura Childs! I started reading the Tea Shop cozy mysteries and found she just started the Cackleberry Club mysteries. Three middle-aged woman (who have lost their husbands thru different circumstances) start up a yummy bakery. Twists and turns galore. So fun! Right now I'm reading Eggs in Purgatory.

The movie I Remember MaMa plays several times a year on TCM Look for it especially around Mother's Day or Christmas. Yes I remember the coffee commercials too...good to the last drop! Coffee was a theme in the movie and tv series too. If your local pbs shows old tv shows watch out for the tv ones there. I remember an old show with a woman named Molly Goldberg I believe. Was it the Molly Goldberg show? The family was Jewish. Husband and wife with grown children. I can't remember the name of the show. Each show taught a life lesson and was marvelous. I REALLY wish you could get a tape of these shows too. Remember the Stew Erwin Show and The Life of Riley? Fun!! :) Jody

Hello my kind friend Brenda! Please forgive my tardiness in reading and responding to your very generous words and good thoughts regarding my books (and the urge for another:) It has been a very busy several months I am now able to take a breath and catch up on all of my very, very, favorite blogs :)!! You are such a wonderful writer, and thinker, that I don't want to rush through your posts so I "save" them for more thorough reading and then time gets by me and I am suddenly months behind!! I have a short window where things are calm and I am totally enjoying all the lovely posts I've missed. I'm off now to do more catching up of your lovely, lovely blog (and not just because you write/wrote nice things about me, but I DO appreciate the good thoughts :). God bless you and your lovely family.

Love from your friend,Tracey xox.

P.S. I too am VERY grateful for this inspiring list(s). I've seen and read many on the lists but there are a few I've missed.

I am so happy to find this blog; i just discovered it. I love pretty things in decorating and love coffee, tea and BOOKS! I recently found another i love. Her name is Patricia Hickman and i met her and she is delightful and a christian lady. The millwood hollow series by her are so good! Veronica Mackinnon

I just love Marjorie Holmes' books "At Christmas the Heart Goes Home" and "You and I and Yesterday". They are nostalgic and full of warm and cozy stories. (She is an inspirational writer but her theology is a bit mucky). Read her for fun, not to be fed!

I have just discovered your blog (from Susan Branch's blog). I'm so glad you mentioned Elizabeth Goudge. I discovered her about 20 years ago at a time when I needed such wisdom, it was a Godsend. Isn't it funny how that works? I have read a lot of other books on your list but am happy that there are others left to read. Thank you!